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Inhibition of farnesyltransferase reduces angiogenesis by interrupting endothelial cell migration

Guoyuan Peng1, Yuan Ren, Xiaodong Sun

  • 1State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, 94 Weijin Road, Tianjin 300071, China.

Biochemical Pharmacology
|March 3, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Farnesyltransferase inhibitors (FTI) block angiogenesis by targeting endothelial cells, impacting cell migration, polarization, and interaction with microtubule end binding protein 1 (EB1). This reveals new functions for farnesyltransferase (FTase) in cancer therapy.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • Farnesyltransferase inhibitors (FTI) are explored for cancer treatment.
  • The physiological roles of farnesyltransferase (FTase) beyond tumor cells are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of FTase in angiogenesis.
  • To determine the mechanism by which FTIs affect endothelial cells.

Main Methods:

  • In vitro and in vivo assays to assess cell migration.
  • Analysis of cell polarization, spreading, and pseudopodia formation.
  • Co-immunoprecipitation to study protein interactions.

Main Results:

  • FTase is involved in angiogenesis, and FTIs inhibit this process by directly acting on endothelial cells.
  • FTase inhibition disrupts endothelial cell migration, polarization, spreading, and pseudopodia formation.
  • FTase interacts with microtubule end binding protein 1 (EB1), crucial for EB1's localization to microtubule tips.

Conclusions:

  • FTase plays a significant role in endothelial cell function and angiogenesis.
  • FTIs offer a potential therapeutic strategy for inhibiting angiogenesis in cancer.
  • The interaction between FTase and EB1 provides novel insights into FTase's cellular functions.

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